Low cost guidance for the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) artillery rocket

Abstract

The US Army Aviation and Missile Command has demonstrated the application of advanced technology to significantly improve the accuracy and range of the US Army's Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) through the Guided MLRS Advanced Technology Demonstration (ATD). The addition of a cost-effective guidance and control package to the rocket results in a weapon system that can defeat the target at ranges up to 70 km with significantly fewer rounds. This not only increases the destructive capability of the system but also reduces the cost of the expended ammunition, the cost to transport the ammunition to the combat zone, and the number of launchers required to execute the mission. The guidance kit is housed in the nose of the MLRS and consists of an inertial measurement unit (IMU), four independent electro-mechanically actuated canards, a Global Position System (GPS) receiver, GPS antennas, a thermal battery, a guidance computer, and power supply electronics. Roll decoupling of the warhead and motor section was required to allow roll control of the guidance section to enable accurate inertial navigation and was accomplished by joining the two sections with a roll bearing. Five flight missiles were built and tested during the ATD. Two IMU vendors were selected to provide flight units (3 flights used vendor A and 2 flights used vendor B). A tightly coupled 8 channel GPS receiver was flown on all flights. This paper discusses the ATD development effort and presents flight test results.